Pre-K Now

Introduction

The Pew Charitable Trusts completed its 10-year campaign to advance high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten for all three- and four-year-olds in 2011. Through its successes, Pre-K Now changed the national conversation about pre-k education, and in its final report, challenged the nation’s policy makers to transform public education by moving away from the current K-12 system to pre-K-12.

Visit the Pew Home Visiting and Children's Dental Campaigns and the Families and Health issue sections of this website to learn more about critical programs for young children.

Why Pre-K Matters

We know from more than 50 years of research that vital learning happens before age five. Yet, for decades, policy makers and education leaders have been working to “fix” public education while overlooking the demonstrated benefits of pre-kindergarten education. To ensure that all children fulfill their potential as individuals and citizens, we must re-imagine public education as a system that begins not with kindergarten, but with quality pre-k, and builds on that foundation to raise performance in later grades.

Our Work

This 2006 report found that each dollar invested to date in the high-quality Arkansas Better Chance Pre-K program will yield $2.32 in future savings to the state and that offering pre-k to all children would return savings of more than $100 million. Read More

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan wants every child — particularly disadvantaged children — to have access to high-quality pre-k programs. Listen to Secretary Duncan speak about leveling the playing field for children with pre-k. Read More

Teach for America Founder and CEO Wendy Kopp believes all kids deserve an exceptional education. Listen to Kopp speak about how starting earlier with high-quaity pre-k can ensure school success and a love of learning for children. Read More

About The Pew Charitable Trusts

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and invigorate civic life.

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